Guard finger and ledger plate construction for mowers and reapers



y 1931. E. A. VVASHBURN 1,806,926

GUARD FINGER AND LEDGER PLATE CONSTRUCTION FOR MOWERS AND REAPERS Filed July 12, 1927 IN VEN TOR.

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Patented May 26, 1931 unit's-n srrss 'PTFZEE ET ()FFECE ERNEST A. "WASHBURIQOF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA Application filed July 12, 1927. Serial No. 305,156.

This invention relates in general to mowers and the like for cutting grass, gram, etc., and

more particularly to a ledger plate, of which there are a plurality on a mower or reaper, arranged in pairs, each of the pairs embodying a stationary and a movable plate.

it is a primary object of my invention to provide an improved type of stationary ledger plate, including a holder substantlally of the form of those 110w in use, and a blade adapted to be driven into but detachably held in fired position on the guard finger, for the purpose of sharpening a blade, or replacing an old blade with a new one.

An object of this invention is to provide a substantially reinforced guard finger of solid construction with a fiat face extending entirely across the finger for engagement with and adapted to solidly support a ledger plate in operative position, and to further construct the finger so as to eliminate the points of weakness which are usually present in other types of devices.

A particular object is to provide a structure which will permit the removal of the led er plates from the guard ringer without removing the latter from the center bar.

Certain other objects of invention may appear as'the description progresses.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention in connection with a commonly used type of guard finger, modified to receive and operably support an improved ledger plate of my invention. 7

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspectlvc view in section, of an assembled cutting unit including a guard finger and a ledger plate embodying my improvements, the section being taken on line 11 of Fig. 3 extending longitudinally of the cutter.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of my improved ledger plate detached from the guard finger.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a guard finger with my improved ledger plate mounted thereon in position for use.

Fig, 4: is a fragmentary view of the guard finger with the ledger plate detached therefrom.

The guard finger H takes the general form of those in common use on mowers and reapers, and embodies an attaching portion IL, having an apertureE extending therethrough by meansofwhich the guard finger maybe supported on a cutter bar by means of a bolt (not shown) inwardly of the portion h, a transverse rib F is provided which abuts the edge of the cutter bar, while the faceofthe portion h abuts the side ofthe bar. The guard finger is also provided with a body portion 71. integral with the attaching portion k, and a flared intermediate portion H which is spaced from the'body of the guard finger H and forms a recess 1", in which the ledger plate B is operably held. p

The central portion of the guard finger is provided with a flat face D terminating in the portion h in a restricted slot 7, adapted to receive the portions 6, e of the plate B, while the lower side of said plate is adapted to rest upon the face D of the guard finger. The plate B is bent downwardly at right angles to'form a flange b, which seats in a wide groove C on the right angular face D of the guard fingerat a point inwardly spaced from the transverse rib F;

. The guard finger is usually provided with ribs G, G, extending outwardly from the body in transverse alinement, and ribs cl, (Z, are provided at the edges of the face D between which the plate B is held, so as to prevent lateral movement thereof on the guard finger. A lug A is provided at the left hand end of the face D, which has right angularly formed surfaces at and a extending outwardly-from the face D and the bottom C of the groove C, respectively, as shown in Fig. 4.

Plate B has an aperture B, half of which is formed in the horizontal portion, and the other half of which is formed in the right angularly bent portion there of, as shown "in Fig. 2. The aperture B is adapted to receive the lug A when the plate is properly positioned on the guard finger. The lug A, ribs d, cZ, and the edges of thegroove C cooperate to prevent movement of the plate on the guard finger while the same is in use. The inner end of the plate is provided with a tongue I) which seats in a narrow recess 6 formed between the portions H and h of the guard finger.

T he guard finger H is preferably made of cast metal and the lug A is integrally cast thereon to receive the plate B. In order to reinforce the lug against breakage due to the strain on the ledger plate in the operation of a mower or reaper, I may provide a diagonally disposed rivet as at R, extending through a suitable bore which may be countersunk at the ends and terminating at one end in the face of the lug A, shown in Fig. 1. In some cases it may be desirable to so reinforce the guard finger H by the use of the rivet R, that in positioning the plate on the guard finger and when moving the same therefrom the lug may not be broken.

In commonly used types of mowers and reapers the ledger plates 13 are usually riveted onto the guard finger H through the central portion thereof, and may not be replaced or repaired without trouble, inconvenience and asubstantial amount of labor. It will be readily apparent that by the use of my improvements the plates B may be driven onto the guard finger H and firmly seated on the face I), over the lug A and at their inner end portions in the slots f, by driving the plate longitudinally from the portion 6.

lVhen it is desired to remove a ledger plate for the purpose of repair or for other purposes, a suitable tool may be inserted in the grooves j, which are usually longer than necessary, and the plate may be forced outwardly from normal position, over the lug A. hen positioned as shown in Fig. 3, the blades cooperate with other movable plates, which operate through the recesses 1* between the plates B and the guard portions H. One side of the guard finger is provided with a recess 9 adapted to receive a tool below and behind the portion 6 of the ledger plate, by means of which the plate may be forced outwardly from its seat on the guard finger.

It will be apparent that my improvements will facilitate the maintenance and repair of mowers and reapers embodying the types of ledger plates shown and described, and that I may modify my invention within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

What I claim is:

l. A device as described comprising a flat face and a rear shoulder extending downwardly from said flat face, a recess being formed on the forward end of said face, a lug formed partly on said flat face and part- 1y on said shoulder, a ledger plate formed at its rear end with a depending portion and provided with an opening partly in the rear end thereof and partly in said depending portion, said plate being fitted on said flat face with its forward end fitted in said recess, and its depending rear portion engaging said shoulder, and with said lug fitted in said opening, the forward edge of said lug on said flat face engaging the forward edge of said opening in the plate and the lower edge of said lug on said shoulder engaging the lower edge of said opening in said depending portion.

2. A device as characterized by claim 1, including the guard finger formed with a recess to receive a tool for forcing said depending portion of said ledger plate away from said shoulder and said edges of said plate opening out of engagen'ient with the corresponding edges of said lu 3. A device as characterized by claim 1 including a rivet extending through-said guard finger and through said lug for reinforcing the guard finger and lug.

nnnnsr A. WASI-IBURN. 

